993James993

Mine doesn't

My '95 has about 110K on the clock, a new RS clutch, clutch slave cylinder and LWF. I'm pretty sure it needs the "Clutch pedal kinematics lever update." My mechanic has the part waiting for me.

My question concerns how easily it shifts among gears. On occasion it will shift as smoothly as butter. If I am within a 20 mile radius of my mechanic's shop (I live 110 miles away) it is as smooth as can be. But in normal driving it's not smooth like that.

Am I the likely culprit or is there something else i should look for?

Thanks!

Jim

AndyT

Possibly the syncros and Murphy's Law : )

epj993

Mine is stiff when stone cold, but light & precise when warmed up. Robin 993DX had a thread recently about a custom gear oil blend that improved overall shifting when cold and hot. Might be something to consider trying.

Mark in Baltimore

Mine is fine hot or cold and in either gentle cycle or full caning mode.

Bull

Very smooth here, and very precise with the B&M short shift kit.

Robin 993DX

After driven a number of 993s including both NA and turbos. I am convinced that when a 993 transmission is functioning properly with the right fluids it should shift buttery smooth. I did also find that if you have a aluminum shift **** or any shift **** that gives you some weight on the shifter it does help lessen the force required to change gear.

After a number of "experimental" fluids and additives, my 993 transmission is shifting as smooth as possible. And this is even with some worn out synchros, I learn to live with the fact that the first 3 minutes is a little stiff, but it doesn't take long at all to smooth out. And this is the same for both of my 993 and 996. In matter of fact even with the trashy cable shifter in my 996 the transmission is shifting perfectly after a few minute drive.

So it sounds like you have a cold shifting issues, could try some different fluids to see if that will help.

What kind of fluids are you running right now?
How many quarts did you fill the transmission with? I found out recently that you have to be quit precise as overfilling the transmission will cause major hard shifting problem.
What temperature range is the car operating at?

Deanriffs

My shifter is like buttah after warm-up, a little notchy going into first and maybe second when cold. I've heard that is normal.

What I don't like is how the clutch engages, in terms of how far up I have to let up off of the pedal. Again, I hear that is normal. If not, somebody please advise!

The engaging of the clutch feels nice and solid once it grabs, so my guess is no issue. My PPI last summer said the clutch was fine, so I'm guessing it's just the design, also based on what I've read on RL.

Adrienne

Mine shifts more like a knife in warm crunchy peanut butter. Smooth, but just a little notchy in other words. It just has a little bit of feel to it, that's all. I have the short shifter and that increased the feel, or the nuts in this case.

Coleman

After $8k in tranny work, including new gears and a GT LSD, LW flywheel and RS Clutch, new slave and clutch masters synthetic oil and a bleed, the thing shifts like an 8K tranny should.. (pics of old Diff. which kinda just emulsified..)

COleman

BobbyT

I've had Robin's recommended gear oil in the box for about three weeks now, and it does seem to make shifting smoother. The only tiny "issue" I had prior to this was shifting from 2nd to 3rd when the gearbox was cold. I could feel a little mechanical "click" like the dog gears engaging, maybe the synchros were not doing their job completely. However, I never feel this click if I run the engine to 4K or more in 2nd...that is, if I don't short-shift, no problem. Moral of the story, once it is warmed up, cane the **** off of it, and it performs perfectly.

John H

Can I use this as my signature line?

Rick Lee

Robin, what's this about overfilling? If the car is level, how can one overfill it? Wouldn't the excess fluid just spill out? I have this job coming up in a few weeks, have it done it many times in the past and always thought I should fill it until it starts to seep back out. Do you have an exact amount to put in?

Edward

Answer:
Yes. 101K miles, orig clutch, and driven hard ...lucky I guess, or thankful that the PO put on 50K gently-shifted miles.

Cold-morning and thick oit reuire a more careful shift into 2nd, but once warmed up, it's "hot knife" and perfect. Good luck sorting it out. Oil is cheap ...try that first.

Edward

p_carfan

Mine shifts awfully damn good, very notchy and perfect smooth lock'n during gear changes. I really don't know if it could be improved. I use Amsoil 75W-90 syn. gear lube, have a factory RS shift kit and RS motor mounts. Very percise .

Robin 993DX

Rick,

I think it was a question of if I really had the car completely leveled.... As it was on jack stands. It certainly looked leveled to me but I was able to put in about 4 quarts when the gear box spec called for 2.7 liter in my 996. Which caused a major shifting problem for me, the extra fluid prevented the synchros from working properly and it was almost impossible to shift. Even after warm up I couldn't get it in 1st gear even when the car was barely moving, after draining the fluid to the correct level the car was shifting perfectly.

If I am not mistaken the 993 calls for 4 quarts?

Or maybe because of the 996 transmission's construction the fill up line is below the filler plug.

So that's how I found out that overfilling a manual transmission can also cause shifting problems.